Drafting machine



March 15, 1949. KETTING DRAFTING MACHINE Filed May 24, 1944 3 SheetsSheet 1 March 15, 1949. KETTmG 2,464,585

DRAFTING MACHINE L INVENTOR.

March 15, 1949. KETTING DRAF'IING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 24,1944 Patented Mar. 15, 1949 DRAFTING MACHINE Leendert Ketting, Secaucus,N. l, assignor to Keuffel & Esser Company, Hoboken, N. J., a corporationof New Jersey Application May 24, 1944, Serial No. 537,097

(Cl. 33-79l 11 Claims.

This invention relates generally to parallel motion drafting devices ofthe kind in which the several tools which the draftsman handles mostfrequently are embodied, in principle, in one unit to obviate thenecessity of a draftsman reaching about for a required tool and therebyenabling the draftsman to keep his attention concentrated directly uponthe drawing.

Drafting devices of this character are common in which adjacent ends oftwo arms are pivoted together, the free end of one arm being anchored tothe remote side of a drafting board while the free end of the other armis provided with a head comprising a protractor and straight-edges whichare in fixed angular relation and move about the center of theprotractor as an axis.

Such straight-edges have heretofore been so.

automatically locked at predetermined intervals.

However, the instrumentalities effecting the setting of thestraight-edges with respect to readings on the protractor have beencharacterized by difiiculty in the manual actuation of the lookingdevice because of its inaccessibility.

One object of the present invention is a drafting device of thecharacter described, wherein actuating means of the locking devices forthe straight-edges are readily accessible for manipulation by the thumbor a finger without moving the hand from the actuating knob on theprotractor head.

It is also an object of the invention to effect the releasing oflatching means for the straightedges by a movement of the hand of theoperator which is similar to the movement of any one of the fingers orthumb in grasping the knob.

The invention also has for one of its objects locking and releasingmechanism for the scale frame which may conveniently be actuated byeither the thumb or a finger, as found most convenient, of the handmanipulating the, knob by which the scale frame is moved to the desiredrelative position. In carrying this aspect of the invention into effect,a disc or plate is preferably provided on the knob, which disc or plateis movable laterally by pressure at any point about its periphery tounlatch the straight-edges and permit them to be moved freely to anyangular position but which, on release, will effect locking of thescaleframe at the nearest even predetermined angular position indicated onthe pro-- tractor. g I l I Another object of the invention is to returnthe disc on the knobto initial position whenever it is released by theoperator. Accordingly, power is stored in power storing devices when thedisc or plate is moved from initial position and which is utilized toreturn the disc.

The invention further seeks an instrumentality converting thesubstantially horizontal movement of the thumb or finger actuated deviceto vertical movement of the latch actuating devices for thestraight-edges to simplify assembly and to avoid the necessity forinterlocking lever arms and other movement transferring devices.

The invention also resides in the details of construction by which thedrafting device is made practical from the standpoint of ease,simplicity and convenience in manufacture and assembly as well asdurability and facility in use.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for theirattainment will be more apparent from the following detaileddescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsillustrating one embodiment by which.

the invention may be realized, and in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the drafting machine mounted ona drawing table; Figure 2 is a view showing the head of the draftingdevice of this invention in vertical section; and

Figure 3 is a plan view of the head with the knob removed to showdetails of the actuating structure,

Referring first to Figure 1, there is illustrated a typical endless bandand pulley type of drafting machine which comprises a pair of arms 6, 1each comprised of tubes 8 within which an endless band 9 (Figure 2) ineach arm travels. The adjacent ends of the arms are pivoted together, asat ill. The-free end of one arm is anchored, as at L2, to the side of adrafting board i3 while the free end of the other arm is provided with asupporting head M comprising the knob or handle !6, a protractor I8 andframe means 26 supporting the straight-edges 22. Obviously the arms mayassume any convenient structural shape and the invention is applicableto types of parallel motion mechanisms other than the wheel and bandtype illustrated.

As shown, the tubes 8 extend into a frame member 24 comprising an outerflange 26 within which the pulley 28 (Figure 2) turns. Inwardly offlange 26 is a cylindrical flange 30 concentric with the axis of thehead 14. Rotatably mounted Within the cylindrical flange 30, as by theball races 32, 33 and ball bearings 34, is a cylindrical hub portion 35which is integral with the pulley 28 and retains the bearing member 33by means of a retaining ring 8% threaded to the upper end of the hub 35.Thus the pulley 28 is free to rotate within the frame portion 2d of thehead Without friction.

'Ihe pulley member 28 is rabbeted as at 38 to receive the protractorplate It and a latching plate 49 spaced from the protractor plate by aspacing ring 42. The locking plate 4d and the protractor I8 are fixed tothe pulley 28 by means of the screw or other securing means d5. Withinthe cylindrical hub of the pulley is disposed a sleeve 44 functioning asa pivot pin and having its upper end of reduced diameter, as indicatedat 46, so that a shoulder 48 is provided substantially flush with theupper surface of the pulley hub 35. The sleeve 44 is secured to, as bybeing made integral with, a plate lilce bottom portion 50 to which thestraight-edge supporting frame 20 is secured as by the screws 52.

The knob i6 is secured to the pivot pin 44 so that rotation of the knobit will rotate the straight-edge supporting frame 29 whenever that frameis released from the pulley by disengaging a common type of latch member54 from the toothed latching plate 49, as will be understood.

The latch 54 is shown as actuated by a slide 47. The knob I6 isoperatively connected with the pivot pin in the following manner:

The knob I6 is recessed, as at 55, and receives a generally cylindricalor cup-shaped knob-supporting frame member Elk-62 comprised of thecylindrical or annular wall 59 and a bottom Wall 62. Proximate thebottom '62, there is illustrated a flange 63 extending beyond thecircumferential margin of the wall 69 to serve as a support foramanually actuatable device 6i88fl controlling the pawl 54 as hereinafterdescribed. The upper end 46 of the tubular pivot pin 44 is held inposition by a nut-like tubular member 72 threaded on the upper end ofthe pivot member 4.4 and seating on the bottom wall 620i the cup-shapedmember to retain the latter against the spacing ring 65 on shoulder 48.Thus the pulley 28 and knob frame 6'0B3 are held in assembly on thepivot member 44 by means of the disc-like portion 58 at its lower endand the nut-like member 72 at its upper end.. The knob 56 is secured tothe frame wall 69 as by at least one screw 64 whereby rotary movement ofthe knob and with it the frame member .69, .92 will turn the pivot pint4 and thereby the straight-edge supporting frame 29.

The bottom surface of a hub portion 61 of the knob frame rests on thespacing ring 235 which is supported on shoulder 48 of pivot pin 44. The

cup-shaped member 6ilfi3 and pivot pin .44 are thus rotatable as a unitwith respect to pulley 28.

The manually ,actuatable devices controllin the latch are carried abovethe level of the arm and in a position to .be operated by a digit of thesame hand of an operator as is used to grasp the knob. As shown, themanually actuatable device takes the form of an annular disc 63 which,as illustrated, is comprised of an upwardly extending frusto-conicalconvex central portion '56,

and a fingereengageable downwardly extending ing conveniently, as shownin Figure 2, the depth of the wall 90, above the flange 63, that is, tothe plane of the upper surface of the flange 63. These slots 83 define,preferably, three equal wall seg ments 54 preferably equally spaced fromone another and of relatively short arcuate length to define relativelyWide spaces therebetween. Slots 8.6 are formed in the manually:actuatable device t8 and in the lower part of the convex portion it andare segmental in shape and are relatively wide so as to loosely receiveor fit over the segmental wall portions 84 with freedom of movementwhereby transverse displacement of the actuating disc '68 is freelypermitted.

As before explained, the pivot pin 44 is shown as formed, below theplate-like bottom portion 59, with a disc-like enlargement 89. It isalso formed with an axial bore extending from the upper end to a point,as shown, in substantially the plane of the disc portion of the pulley28. From that point, the bore is inclined downwardly and outwardly, asat 92, to the periphery of the-enlargement 99 in register with the innerend of the slide which conveniently may be constricted to substantiallythe diameter of the bore-90; 92, as shown at 94. The constricted portion94 enters a groove or passage 95 formed in a block 96 secured as by thedevices 98 to'the frame member 26. The passage 92 is in register withthe bore 90 and forms a continuation thereof. Within the axial portion90 of the bore, a. rod-like plunger Hill is disposed which isconveniently provided with a plate or disc I 02 at its upper end inspaced relation to the upper end of the pivot pin 44. The plunger I00terminates short of the lower end of the axial bore 90 and the remainderof the axial bore 90 and the inclined bore 92 is filled withballs I05,say, of steel, which are prevented from escaping by the end 94 of thereciprocable member "4].

The bore in the upper end of the pivot pin 44 is enlarged as indicatedat I06 and receives a yielding element shown as the coil spring I98surrounding the plunger :IIIO. This coil spring I98 normally extendsbeyond the upper end of the pivot pin and engages the disc-like plateI02 to urge it and the plunger I90 upwardly in the bore of the pivotpin. Resting on the pivot pin plate I62 is a similar plate H2 carried onthe bottom of a short red "I I4 having a tapered upperend terminating ina spherical end IIB normally disposed within the passage 80 in theactuating member 68. The element 'I]2II6 is retained in position by thecollar H8 adjustably threaded on the nut-like member 12. Thus thenut-like member I2 and the collar H8 function as a cage to retain andpermit relative movement of the camming member I I2, I I6 in actuatingthe latch 54. It will be obvious that when the element H4 is tippedabout its vertical axis by reciprocation or lateral movement of the disc68, the plate H2 will be fulcrumed on the collar H8 at one side, therebycausing the opposite side of the plate I I2 to move downwardlyand'thereby' forcing the,

permit the parts, including the latch, to return' to initial positionunder the inffuence of spring 55. The ball H6 on the cam member H4affords universal movement and thetipping or anglll lfv displacement ofthe element I I4 in any direction will result in camming down theplunger I00 to actuate and release the latch 54. So soon as this cammingmember H4 is released, the plunger I is returned to its originalposition under the influence of the spring I08.

It will be readily appreciated, therefore, that Whenever the plunger I00is depressed, the series of balls I05 will be forced downwardly in thepassage 90, 92 pressing against the end 94 of the reciprocable memberand displacing it to the right, as viewed in Figure 2, to actuate thelatch 54 against the reaction of the spring 55. Obviously, whileelements such as steel balls I05 are shown between the plunger I00 andthe reciprocable member 41, any elements transmitting the transversemovement of the disc 68, 18 to the reciprocably movable member 4'! inorder to actuate the latch 54, are within the purview of the invention.

It will also be appreciated that the plunger and balls constitute, ineffect, a flexible element functioning in the manner of a bowdoin wireor the equivalent and the term flexible element is intended to encompassany power transmitting element extending from the cam structure of thedisc to the latch or to any extent intermediate these two elements.

Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art in theconfiguration and disposition of the c-amming device and theinstrumentalities actuating the same and no limitation is intended bythe phraseology of the foregoing description or illustrations in theaccompanying drawings except as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a drafting machine, in combination, means fixed in orientation, astraight-edge supporting frame, means to latch said frame to said meansfixed in orientation, means mounting said straight-edge supporting framefor rotary movement, planar means mounted for movement in any directionin a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said means fixed inorientation to release said latching means.

2. In a drafting machine, in combination, means fixed in orientation, astraight-edge supporting frame, means to latch said frame to said meansfixed in orientation, means mounting said straight-edge supporting framefor rotary movement, a knob rotatable with respect to the mounting meansand said frame, means movable radially in any direction with respect tosaid knob,

operative connections between the last named means and the latch meansto release said latch means by any radial movement of said means.

3. In a drafting machine, in combination, means fixed in orientation, astraight-edge supporting frame, a latching plate carried by one of saidmeans, latching means carried by the other said means and co-acting withthe latching plate, means mounting said straight-edge supporting framefor rotary movement, a knob fixed to said mounting means, means movablein any horizontal direction parallel with said straight edge supportingframe and operative at any position with respect to the circumference ofsaid knob to release said latching means.

4. In a drafting machine, the combination with a drafting headcomprising means relatively fixed in orientation, a pivot pin, astraight edge supporting frame carried by the pivot pin, a handlecarrying frame carried by the upper end of the pivot pin, means latchingsaid straight edge supporting frame to said means relatively fixed inorientation, said pivot pin being formed with a longitudinally extendingpassage terminating at its lower end in register with the means latching6 said straight edge supporting. frame; a plurality of movable elementsin the passage, laterally movable disc means carried by the handlecarrying frame below the handle comprising a centrally located upwardlyextending portion engageable with the upper end of an element movable inthe passage to engage and rock said element and thereby propel saidelements downwardly in the passage to actuate the latchin means.

5. In a drafting machine, the combination with a drafting headcomprising means relatively fixed in orientation, a pivot pin, astraight edge supporting frame carried by the pivot pin, a handlecarrying frame carried by the upper end of the pivot pin, means latchingsaid straight edge supporting frame to said means fixed in orientation,said pivot pin being formed with a longitudinally extending passageterminating at its lower end in register with the means latching saidstraight edge supporting frame; of a plunger formed with a disc-likehead means to reciprocate the plunger in the passage, a camming memberformed with a disc-like base resting on the said head, an actuating discformed with centrally located means engageable with the upper end of therod-like member to tip said member laterally to thereby depress thefirst-mentioned member and propel the elements in the passage.

6. In a drafting machine the combination with a drafting head comprisingmeans relatively fixed in orientation, a pivot pin, a straight edgesupporting frame carried by the pivot pin, a handle carrying framecarried by the upper end of the pivot pin, means latching said straightedge supporting frame to said means fixed in orientation,

said pivot pin being formed with a longitudinally extending passageterminating at its lower end in register with the means latching saidstraight edge supporting frame; of an annular wall comprising the upperend of the pivot pin defining a recess, spring means in the recess, arod-like element in the recess urged upwardly by the spring means, saidelement being formed with a head, an element formed with a base restingon the head,

' a disc, means to support the disc in universal movement in ahorizontal plane, and means of!- set with respect to the plane of thedisc to engage the upper end of the element and displace the samewhereby said rod-like element is depressed and the latching meansactuated.

7. In a drafting machine, the combination with a drafting headcomprising means relatively fixed in orientation, a pivot pin, astraight edge supporting frame carried by the pivot pin, a handlecarrying frame carried by the upper end of the pivot pin, means latchingsaid straight edge supporting frame to said means'fixed in orientation,said pivot pin being formed with a longitudinally extending passageterminating at its lower end in register with the means latching saidstraight edge supporting frame; of a plurality of elements in thepassage comprising a plunger in the upper portion of the passage andextending therewithout, said plunger being formed with a plate, a memberformed with a plate supported on said plunger plate, means carried bythe pivot pin limiting upward movement of the plates, spring meansurging the plunger upwardly and a relatively fiat disc-like membersupported on the handle carrying frame and comprising a portion engagingthe upper plunger to move the same angularly and thereby depress thelower plunger. to propel the elements and thereby actuate the latch.

8. In a drafting machine, the combination with a drafting headcomprising means relatively fixed in orientation, a pivot pin, astraight edge supporting frame carried by a lower end of the pivot pin,a handle carrying frame carried by the upper end of the pivot pin, meanslatching said straight edge supporting frame to said means fixed inorientation, said pivot pin formed with a longitudinally extendingpassage comprising an upper passage portion of enlarged diameter andterminating at its lower end in register with the means latching saidstraight edge supporting frame; of a plurality of elements in thepassage comprising a plunger in the upper portion of the passage andextending thereabove, said plunger being formed with a plate on itsupper end, a member formed with a plate on its lower end and therebysupported on the inst-named plate, said last-named member being formedwith knob means, a relatively flat disc-like member supported on thehandle carrying frame for reciprocation in a horizontal plane and formedcentrally with a cylindrical passage receiving the knob means,

9. In a drafting machine, the combination with a drafting headcomprising means relatively fixed in orientation, a pivot pin, astraight edge supporting frame carried by the pivot pin, a frame carriedby the upper end of the pivot pin, means latching said straight edgesupporting frame to said means fixed in orientation, said pivot pinbeing formed with a longitudinally extending passage terminating at itslower end in register with the means latching said straight edgesupporting frame; of a plurality of elements in the passage comprising aplunger in the upper portion of the passage and extending therewithout,said plunger being formed with a head, an upper member formed with abase supported on said plunger head, means carried by said pivot pinlimiting upward movement of the said upper member, elastic meanssupporting said plunger and cooperating with said plunger head and withsaid pivot pin, and a member supported for lateral movement in anyhorizontal direction on the frame comprising a portion engaging theupper end of the upper member to cant the upper member and therebydepress the plunger.

10. In a drafting machine, the combination with a drafting headcomprising means relatively fixed in orientation, a pivot pin, astraight-edge supporting frame carried by the pivot pin, ahandle-carrying frame carried by the upper of the pivot pin, meanslatching said straight edge supporting frame to said means fixed inorientation, said pivot pin being formed with a longitudinally extendingpassage terminating at its lower end in register with the means latchingsaid straight-edge supporting frame; of a plurality of elements slidablyarranged in the" said passage and comprising a plunger in the upperportion of the passage and extending therewithout, said plunger beingformed at its upper end with a head, a camming member formed at itslower end with a base supported on the said plunger head on the upperend of said plunger, means carried by said pivot pin and cooperatingwith said base and limiting upward movement of said plunger and cammingmember, spring means cooperating With said pivot pin and said plungerhead exerting upward pressure on the plunger head, and a manuallyoperable member supported for lateral sliding movement in any horizontaldirection on the handlecarrying frame and having a portion engaging theupper end of said camming member to rock the same angularly on its platebase when said manually operable member is slid laterally in anydirection, thereby depressing said plunger and moving the elements insaid passage and moving to unlatching position the means latching saidstraight-edge supporting frame.

11. In a drafting machine, the combination with a drafting headcomprising means relatively fixed in orientation, a pivot pin, astraight edge supporting frame carried by the pivot pin, a frame carriedby the supper end of the pivot pin, means latching said straight edgesupporting frame to said means fixed in orientation, said pivot pinbeing formed with a longitudinally extending passage terminating at itslower endin register with the means latching said straight edgesupporting frame; of a member movable laterally by pressure at any pointon its periphery unlatching and releasing said straight edgesupportingframe to permit angular movement thereof,

LEENDERT KETTING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Oct. 17, 1929Number

